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Asian Shares Mostly Rise,
But Rate Woes Sink Nikkei

Asian-Pacific markets finished mostly higher Wednesday in thin trading as many investors remained sidelined due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Tokyo stocks fell, however, amid interest-rate concerns.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 average shed 91.08, or 0.65%, to close at 13893.58 as concerns about interest rates weighed down the market after comments by Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami. Mr. Hayami said the central bank is reluctant to revert to the zero-interest rate policy and that it is not good to interfere with the stock...